AC/DC’s Malcolm Young Dies At Age 64

Young was the co-founder, guitarist, and driving force behind legendary rock band AC/DC. (Photo: Instagram)

Malcolm Young founded the band with his younger brother, Angus, in 1973. (Photo: WENN)

Young was known as the cofounder and driving force behind the band along with his younger brother Angus. (Photo: WENN)

“He leaves behind an enormous legacy that will live forever. Malcolm, job well done,” his brother Angus said in an official statement posted on the band’s official website. (Photo: Instagram)

In 2014, Young left the band temporarily to receive treatment for his dementia. (Photo: WENN)

Every now and then he’s still the Malcolm I know,” Angus said of his brother’s condition in an interview 3 years ago. (Photo: WENN)

Malcolm Young has died at age 64. (Photo: WENN)

Malcolm Young, rhythm guitar player and founder member of heavy metal rock band AC/DC, died at age 64 on Saturday, November 18. The legendary musician left in peace surrounded by his family after a long battle against dementia.

“It is with deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of Malcolm Young, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother,” AC/DC said in a statement on their website.

His brother Angus Young said in a separate statement: “As his brother it is hard to express in words what he has meant to me during my life. The bond we had was unique a very special.” He continued, “He leaves behind an enormous legacy that will live forever. Malcolm, job well done.”

Born on June 6, 1953 in Glasgow, Scotland before moving to Australia in 1963, Young was known as the cofounder and driving force behind the band along with his younger brother Angus. He wrote the group’s iconic repertoire and came up with many of their biggest and best guitar riffs.

On April 2014, AC/DC announced that Malcolm would be temporarily absent to receive treatment for dementia, before later confirming his definitive retirement in September that same year.

With his approval, Young was replaced by his nephew Stevie during the band’s tour in 2014, while promoting their album “Rock or Bust”.

In an interview three years ago, Angus opened up about Malcom’s condition, saying it had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer remember many of the songs he had written. “It was hard work for him,” he said. “He was relearning a lot of those songs that he knew backwards; the ones we were playing that night he’d be relearning […] Every now and then he’s still the Malcolm I know.”